There are many different ways to get involved at Grazebrook School.

Whether you are a parent, a carer, a neighbour, a local business or a member of the wider community, there are lots of things you can do to help support the education of the children within the school, and to open up new opportunities for learning.

Finding out what is going on and how you can get involved

Information about how you can get involved and what’s going on can be found on school and classroom notice-boards, through the weekly Minigossip newsletter and the half-termly Headteacher’s newsletter, as well as here on the web site.

If you do not have a child at the school and you wish to help or support the school, please contact the Headteacher through the school office, Contacts@grazebrook.hackney.sch.uk or 020 8802 4051.

Supporting Grazebrook’s children

There are many different ways in which parents, carers and the wider community can contribute to the educational experiences of the children at Grazebrook.

As a parents and carers you can support your child’s learning, both at home and in school. You are welcome to spend time in the classroom, by arrangement with the class teacher, to come along on school trips and to attend class assemblies.

The school is always interested in hearing from individuals and organisations who want to support Grazebrook, and to build on the generous help it has had from the local community in the past. This could mean anything from coming in regularly to help out with reading, to providing financial and practical support for large projects. If you, your business or your organisation has skills or expertise to offer, or if you are interested in sponsoring the school in any way, the Headteacher would be very happy to hear from you. Please contact Alex Tate via the school office Contacts@grazebrook.hackney.sch.uk.

Parents’ evenings

The school holds two parents’ evenings during the school year, where parents are invited to sign up for a ten-minute meeting with their child’s teacher. Parents are able to look at their child’s work and discuss his or her progress. Click here for advice on How to make the most of parents’ evening.

The school and the Parents’ Forum also organise special events focusing on a wide range of different areas of your child’s education. These events will be publicised on the web site and on school noticeboards.

Parents’ Forum

The school has recently set up a Parents’ Forum. This is a great opportunity for all parents and carers of children at Grazebrook to talk to each other, informally and in a relaxed environment, about issues that affect their children in school.

The Forum aims to produce positive actions that will benefit the pupils, staff, parents and carers. It does this by gathering shared experiences and ideas from parents and carers, developing a constructive dialogue between the Forum and the school and making recommendations to the staff and governors as appropriate.

The Forum holds about five meetings a year, where parents and carers can meet and talk to each other. Sometimes the Forum hosts special meetings looking at particular issues such as the teaching of maths, health and wellbeing, etc.

Further information on the Parents Forum or email:grazebrookparents@googlemail.com

Parent Staff Association

All parents, carers and staff are members of the Parent Staff Association (PSA). The PSA has three main roles: to encourage all parents and carers to become involved in the life of the school, to support and organise social events and to fundraise for things that are not covered by the school budget, such as extra-curricular activities and the school grounds.

You can support the PSA by helping out with social events or with fundraising. When big events are being planned, the PSA will ask for volunteers to be part of a team to plan the event and help out on the day.

Another way is which you can support the PSA is by making a regular charitable donation. You can do this by filling in a standing order form and returning it to the school office. You can choose how much or how little you want to give and how often you want to make the payment, and we will arrange for the direct debit to be set up. If you are a UK tax payer we can reclaim the tax on this which means that for every £1 you donate the PSA gets £1.28. Download a Gift Aid form here.

Click here for further information on the PSA.

Becoming a school governor

Governors work strategically with the Headteacher and staff on the school’s aims, policies, budget, pay, staff appointments and priorities. They look at how the statutory requirements of early years, primary education and the National Curriculum are being carried out, including the School Development Plan, which outlines the school’s activities mentioned above. Click here for more information about what governors do.

There are currently six posts on the school’s governing body for parents/carers. These are elected posts, and once elected you can remain in the post for four years.

There are also three posts for community governors and three posts for Local Education Authority governors. Community governors are appointed by the governing body and LEA governors are appointed by the Learning Trust.

If you are interested in becoming a governor at Grazebrook School, please contact the Chair of Governors through the school office, Contacts@grazebrook.hackney.sch.uk or 020 8802 4051.

Parent Centre
http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/
Parent Centre has been developed by the Department for Education and Skills to support parents. It contains advice, information and opportunities to share experiences on a variety of childcare and parenting subjects.